Preview: LA Galaxy II vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

LA Galaxy II (5-12-4, 19 points) return to the pitch after a bye week, traveling to face Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (9-6-4, 33 points) on Friday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. PT. The match will be streamed live and for free on LAGalaxy.com/2.

Los Dos attempt to get things restarted after a home loss to Phoenix Rising FC on Aug. 5 snapped a four-game unbeaten streak, the team’s longest such streak this season. The streak had been ignited by the performances of Justin Dhillon and Adrian Vera, goal scorers who had led the way with five goals combined across four games in the month of July.

The team has also seen defensive improvement of recent, conceding an average of one goal per game in their last three outings. The unit has been recently bolstered by the signing of Guatemalan international Jefrey Payeras, a 2016 loanee to the squad who stood out as their top centerback last season.

With 19 points, LA Galaxy II are 10 points off playoff inclusion with 11 games to play. They’ve made the playoffs in each year of USL competition so far. Colorado Springs sits 7th in the USL Western Conference with 33 points.

Los Dos has seen Switchbacks FC once this season, a 2-1 loss at StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium on June 10. After Justin Dhillon netted an equalizer in the 80th minute, Los Dos conceded the game-winner ten minutes later in the 90th. Dhillon leads Galaxy II with six goals this season.

With the first team returning to health, the inclusion of younger LA Galaxy players has returned. No LA Galaxy players had participated in Los Dos games in June or July.